In this review paper we focus on the dilemma of whether or not current fresh water supply will meet the demand/needs of agricultural crops despite the continuing impact of water scarcity. In addition, we evaluate whether an increase in future population, change in water demand and supply patterns, due to climate change, will allow sustainable food production. With increased scarcity of freshwater, new water conservation technologies and biotechnology were developed, as well as newly developed water sources such as recycled wastewater, and various water institutions, which may help ease water scarcity. With new advancements in farming practices and crop innovations global food supply is still challenged by climate change effects on both water and land resources used for food production.

This first background paper from the CGIAR Water for Food Program seeks to identify research needs to increase crop water productivity, such that food security can be ensured and farmers’ livelihoods enhanced without increasing water diverted for agriculture.The paper proposes a number of priority topics for research on crop water management in the challenge Program on Water and Food, which will be amended during the development of the Program. These studies are grouped into four categories of research issues: effective development of genotypes to accelerate improvement of crop water productivitynew opportunities and technologies for integrated crop and natural resources management at field and farm levelopportunities for enhancing water productivity at regional and agro-ecological systemsinstitutional arrangements at the farming-systems level, which promote farmers’ adoption of technologies that enhance water productivityThe paper concludes that whilst there are challenges to be met at each of the levels considered there are hopeful signs that the goals of the program are achievable.

PR | IFPRI4 | EPTD

Rosegrant Mark W. et al., 'Global Water and Food Security: Megatrends and Emerging Issues', In Global change: Impacts on water and food security. Water Resources Development and Management, ed. Claudia Ringler; Asit K. Biswas; and Sarah A. Cline. Chapter 6. Pp. 17-47., IFPRI, 2009 | Book chapter

Energy production and development have impacts on non-energy sector concerns including food security, water security, and sustainable land-use. Biofuel pathways differ in the tradeoffs they present within this “energy-water-food nexus” (EWFN). In this study, we focus on algal systems in the context of these interrelated challenges. We present areas of key consideration within the EWFN for large-scale algal system planning and commercialization, consider key resource inputs and outputs in the context of traditional biofuels compared with algal biofuels, provide examples of current global practices and EWFN impacts pertaining to liquid biofuels, and discuss potential opportunities and tradeoffs in applications of algal systems to EWFN challenges. The work described here could be used as a guide for future analysis that could quantitatively evaluate algal system feasibility in terms of economic viability, spatially and temporally explicit environmental impacts and production levels, and cross-sectorial impacts.

Thyme oil in water nanomulsion was prepared under subcritical water conditions using water and saponin, as solvent and emulsifier, respectively. Gas chromatography revealed that there were 44 bioactive components in the extracted thyme essential oil which, thymol and carvacrol were two mains of them. Experiments were designed based on central composite design and effects of amounts of saponin and thyme essential oil were evaluated on particle size, polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential of the prepared nanoemulsions using response surface methodology. Obtained results revealed that more desirable thyme oil nanoemulsions with minimum particle size (184.51 nm) and PDI (0.514), and maximum zeta potential (− 22.51 mV) were prepared using 0.94 g of saponin and 0.28 mL of thyme essential oil. Furthermore, results indicated that prepared nanoemulsion using obtained optimum production conditions had relatively high antioxidant activity (24%) and high antibacterial and antifungal activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Penicillium digitatum.

Relation between the thermodynamic parameters obtained from water sorption isotherms and the degree of reduction in the glass transition temperature (Tg), accompanied by water sorption, was quantitatively studied. Two well-known glassy food materials namely, wheat gluten and maltodextrin were used as samples. The difference between the chemical potential of water in a solution and that of pure water (), the difference between the chemical potential of solid in a solution and that of a pure solid (), and the change in the integral Gibbs free energy () were obtained by analyzing the water sorption isotherms using solution thermodynamics. The parameter correlated well with ΔTg (≡Tg − Tg₀; where Tg₀ is the glass transition temperature of dry material), which had been taken to be an index of plasticizing effect. This indicates that plasticizing effect of water on foods can be evaluated through the parameter .

A new bio-MSPE sorbent based on the use of C. micaceus and γ-Fe₂O₃ magnetic nanoparticle was prepared for the preconcentrations of Co(II) and Hg(II). Critical parameters including pH, flow rate, quantity of C. micaceus, quantity of γ-Fe₂O₃ magnetic nanoparticle, eluent (type, concentration and volume), sample volume, and foreign ions were examined. Surface structure and variations after interaction with Co(II) and Hg(II) of bio-MSPE sorbent were investigated by FT-IR, SEM, and EDX. The impact of bio-MSPE column reusage was also tested. The biosorption capacities were determined as 24.7 mg g⁻¹ and 26.2 mg g⁻¹, respectively for Co(II) and Hg(II). Certified reference materials were utilized to find out the accuracy of the prepared bio-MSPE method. This novel bio-MSPE method was accomplished by being applied to real food and water samples. In particular, it will be possible to make use of C. micaceus as new alternatives, in environmental biotechnology applications.